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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Harman in Sir Fred honour gaffe | Harman in Sir Fred honour gaffe |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Harriet Harman has admitted wrongly telling MPs that the ex-banking boss Sir Fred Goodwin had received his knighthood for charity work. | Harriet Harman has admitted wrongly telling MPs that the ex-banking boss Sir Fred Goodwin had received his knighthood for charity work. |
| Labour's deputy leader made the blunder as she stood in for Gordon Brown at prime minister's questions. | Labour's deputy leader made the blunder as she stood in for Gordon Brown at prime minister's questions. |
| The official record shows the former Royal Bank of Scotland chief was knighted "for services to banking". | The official record shows the former Royal Bank of Scotland chief was knighted "for services to banking". |
| Sir Fred has faced calls to be stripped of the honour for helping drive RBS to the brink of ruin. | Sir Fred has faced calls to be stripped of the honour for helping drive RBS to the brink of ruin. |
| Ms Harman, who has been the most outspoken Cabinet critic of Sir Fred's £700,000-a-year pension deal, was challenged about the honour by Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Elfyn LLwyd. | Ms Harman, who has been the most outspoken Cabinet critic of Sir Fred's £700,000-a-year pension deal, was challenged about the honour by Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Elfyn LLwyd. |
| 'Challenging projects' | 'Challenging projects' |
| Asked who had put him forward and why, she told him: "I think Sir Fred was nominated for a knighthood because of his services for the Prince's Trust. | Asked who had put him forward and why, she told him: "I think Sir Fred was nominated for a knighthood because of his services for the Prince's Trust. |
| "I understand it was not in recognition of his services to banking." | "I understand it was not in recognition of his services to banking." |
| But immediately after the Question Time session, Ms Harman was forced to correct the mistake. | But immediately after the Question Time session, Ms Harman was forced to correct the mistake. |
| In a statement, her office said: "The Leader of the House is happy to correct what she said at Prime Minister's Questions today regarding Sir Fred Goodwin's knighthood. | In a statement, her office said: "The Leader of the House is happy to correct what she said at Prime Minister's Questions today regarding Sir Fred Goodwin's knighthood. |
| [Goodwin] undertook many challenging projects that benefited both his company and the Scottish economy as a whole Downing Street in June 2004 Business rewarded in honours list | |
| "It was, in fact, the case that he received his honour for services to banking but no doubt his contribution to the Prince's Trust would also have been taken into account." | "It was, in fact, the case that he received his honour for services to banking but no doubt his contribution to the Prince's Trust would also have been taken into account." |
| In June 2004, when Frederick Anderson Goodwin was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, there was no mention of his charity work in official Downing Street briefings. | In June 2004, when Frederick Anderson Goodwin was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, there was no mention of his charity work in official Downing Street briefings. |
| The prime minister's official spokesman said Sir Fred "undertook many challenging projects that benefited both his company and the Scottish economy as a whole". | The prime minister's official spokesman said Sir Fred "undertook many challenging projects that benefited both his company and the Scottish economy as a whole". |
| The knighthood, which is reported to have been on Gordon Brown's personal recommendation, came months after Sir Fred led RBS to a record annual profit of £6.2bn. | The knighthood, which is reported to have been on Gordon Brown's personal recommendation, came months after Sir Fred led RBS to a record annual profit of £6.2bn. |
| But the honour was attacked at the time by trade unions who branded him a "fat cat" for accepting a £900,000 bonus on top of his then annual salary of £1m. | But the honour was attacked at the time by trade unions who branded him a "fat cat" for accepting a £900,000 bonus on top of his then annual salary of £1m. |
| Sir Fred has reportedly been forced to step down as head of the Prince's Trust after six years. He will quit as chairman in June. | Sir Fred has reportedly been forced to step down as head of the Prince's Trust after six years. He will quit as chairman in June. |
| He has also faced calls to be stripped of his knighthood, with more than 800 people signing a petition on the Downing Street website. | He has also faced calls to be stripped of his knighthood, with more than 800 people signing a petition on the Downing Street website. |
| 'Harriet's law' | |
| Ms Harman told MPs at prime minsters' questions the government was taking "all steps" to challenge the enforceability of Sir Fred's pension contract. | Ms Harman told MPs at prime minsters' questions the government was taking "all steps" to challenge the enforceability of Sir Fred's pension contract. |
| She said UK Financial Investments (UKFI), the body set up to manage the taxpayers' interests in the part-nationalised banks, had been asked to investigate Sir Fred's contract. | She said UK Financial Investments (UKFI), the body set up to manage the taxpayers' interests in the part-nationalised banks, had been asked to investigate Sir Fred's contract. |
| At the weekend, Ms Harman hinted the law may be changed to prevent Sir Fred collecting the money, saying the contract may be legally enforceable but was "not enforceable in the court of public opinion". | At the weekend, Ms Harman hinted the law may be changed to prevent Sir Fred collecting the money, saying the contract may be legally enforceable but was "not enforceable in the court of public opinion". |
| But Liberal Democrat deputy leader Vince Cable said the government should use existing legislation to strip Sir Fred as opposed to her "rather eccentric proposal for a 'Harriet's Law'". | But Liberal Democrat deputy leader Vince Cable said the government should use existing legislation to strip Sir Fred as opposed to her "rather eccentric proposal for a 'Harriet's Law'". |
| Mr Cable told Ms Harman there was "growing anger in what you called the court of public opinion" about "lavish and generous pensions" not just for bankers but for "fat cats" in the public sector including Whitehall mandarins and ministers. | Mr Cable told Ms Harman there was "growing anger in what you called the court of public opinion" about "lavish and generous pensions" not just for bankers but for "fat cats" in the public sector including Whitehall mandarins and ministers. |
| Earlier in the session, acting Conservative leader William Hague taunted Ms Harman about her alleged Labour leadership ambitions saying "this could be her moment". | Earlier in the session, acting Conservative leader William Hague taunted Ms Harman about her alleged Labour leadership ambitions saying "this could be her moment". |
| To howls of laughter from Tory MPs, Mr Hague compared Labour's deputy leader to Churchill, who stepped in when his party lost confidence in its leader. | To howls of laughter from Tory MPs, Mr Hague compared Labour's deputy leader to Churchill, who stepped in when his party lost confidence in its leader. |
| He also invoked Harold Macmillan, who took over from Anthony Eden. | He also invoked Harold Macmillan, who took over from Anthony Eden. |
| Ms Harman, standing in for Gordon Brown at prime ministers' questions, accused Mr Hague of focusing on "gossip". | Ms Harman, standing in for Gordon Brown at prime ministers' questions, accused Mr Hague of focusing on "gossip". |